Nevada Residential & Small Commercial
(B-2) Contractor trade exam Questions
And Correct Answers With Rationales
2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a compaction test on sitework?
A. To check soil moisture content
B. To verify soil bearing capacity
C. To measure compaction density B
D. To test soil chemical composition
It’s to measure how densely the soil has been compacted, which
affects structural stability.
2. In concrete mix design, increasing the water-cement ratio will:
A. Increase strength
B. Decrease workability
C. Reduce strength C
D. Increase set time
More water increases porosity, which weakens the cured concrete.
3. Which of the following reinforcement bars is most commonly used
in masonry for vertical reinforcement?
A. Fiber-reinforced polymer
B. Welded wire mesh
, C. #4 deformed bar C
D. Post-tension strand
#4 (½-inch) rebar is frequently used in masonry wall vertical
reinforcement.
4. For metal framing in a small commercial building, what is a
primary concern compared to wood framing?
A. Moisture resistance
B. Termite damage
C. Thermal bridging C
D. Shrinkage
Steel is a good conductor of heat, so thermal bridging (heat
transfer) is more significant.
5. When laying floor joists in carpentry, what is the typical maximum
span between supports, depending on joist size and load?
A. 4 ft
B. 8 ft
C. 16 ft C
D. 24 ft
Joist span tables often allow spans around 16 f t for common
residential loads.
6. What is the main purpose of a vapor barrier in thermal and
moisture protection?
A. To stop rain ingress
B. To prevent moisture diffusion from the warm side B
C. To insulate thermal energy
D. To support structural loads
, A vapor barrier prevents water vapor from migrating into cold
areas where it may condense.
7. In door installation, the “rough opening” refers to:
A. The finished size of the door frame
B. The size of the door slab
C. The framed opening before drywall C
D. The size after the trim is installed
Rough opening is the structural framed space before finishes.
8. For drywall finish level 5, what is typically required?
A. One coat of joint compound
B. Two coats, lightly sanded
C. Three coats of joint compound and a skim coat C
D. Texture finish only
Level 5 finish is the highest quality — three coats plus a thin skim
over the surface.
9. According to OSHA safety regulations (as they apply to
construction), which of the following is required on a job site?
A. Fall protection for work above 4 ft A
B. Safety glasses only for power tools
C. Hard hats only near crane operations
D. No protection required for masonry
OSHA requires fall protection when working at certain heights;
specifics may depend on the situation.
10. In plan reading, a scale of 1/4" = 1'-0" means:
A. 4 inches on drawing equals 1 foot in real life
B. 1 foot on drawing equals 4 feet in real life
C. 1/4 inch on drawing equals 1 foot in real life C
, D. 1/4 inch equals 4 feet
Scale indicates how drawing dimensions map to real-world
dimensions.
11. What does the "Nevada One-Call" system help prevent?
A. Building permit fraud
B. Calling for subcontractors
C. Striking underground utilities C
D. Filing taxes
One-Call prevents accidental damage to buried utilities by
notifying of excavation.
12. On a construction job, the safety factor is used to:
A. Reduce project cost
B. Increase profit
C. Provide a margin above designed loads C
D. Speed construction
Safety factors add a margin of safety beyond the expected
maximum loads.
13. What is a typical minimum concrete slump for normal
residential foundations?
A. 1 inch
B. 3 inches B
C. 6 inches
D. 9 inches
A slump of about 3" is common for workability without excessive
water.
14. In masonry construction, a head joint is:
A. The horizontal mortar joint
(B-2) Contractor trade exam Questions
And Correct Answers With Rationales
2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a compaction test on sitework?
A. To check soil moisture content
B. To verify soil bearing capacity
C. To measure compaction density B
D. To test soil chemical composition
It’s to measure how densely the soil has been compacted, which
affects structural stability.
2. In concrete mix design, increasing the water-cement ratio will:
A. Increase strength
B. Decrease workability
C. Reduce strength C
D. Increase set time
More water increases porosity, which weakens the cured concrete.
3. Which of the following reinforcement bars is most commonly used
in masonry for vertical reinforcement?
A. Fiber-reinforced polymer
B. Welded wire mesh
, C. #4 deformed bar C
D. Post-tension strand
#4 (½-inch) rebar is frequently used in masonry wall vertical
reinforcement.
4. For metal framing in a small commercial building, what is a
primary concern compared to wood framing?
A. Moisture resistance
B. Termite damage
C. Thermal bridging C
D. Shrinkage
Steel is a good conductor of heat, so thermal bridging (heat
transfer) is more significant.
5. When laying floor joists in carpentry, what is the typical maximum
span between supports, depending on joist size and load?
A. 4 ft
B. 8 ft
C. 16 ft C
D. 24 ft
Joist span tables often allow spans around 16 f t for common
residential loads.
6. What is the main purpose of a vapor barrier in thermal and
moisture protection?
A. To stop rain ingress
B. To prevent moisture diffusion from the warm side B
C. To insulate thermal energy
D. To support structural loads
, A vapor barrier prevents water vapor from migrating into cold
areas where it may condense.
7. In door installation, the “rough opening” refers to:
A. The finished size of the door frame
B. The size of the door slab
C. The framed opening before drywall C
D. The size after the trim is installed
Rough opening is the structural framed space before finishes.
8. For drywall finish level 5, what is typically required?
A. One coat of joint compound
B. Two coats, lightly sanded
C. Three coats of joint compound and a skim coat C
D. Texture finish only
Level 5 finish is the highest quality — three coats plus a thin skim
over the surface.
9. According to OSHA safety regulations (as they apply to
construction), which of the following is required on a job site?
A. Fall protection for work above 4 ft A
B. Safety glasses only for power tools
C. Hard hats only near crane operations
D. No protection required for masonry
OSHA requires fall protection when working at certain heights;
specifics may depend on the situation.
10. In plan reading, a scale of 1/4" = 1'-0" means:
A. 4 inches on drawing equals 1 foot in real life
B. 1 foot on drawing equals 4 feet in real life
C. 1/4 inch on drawing equals 1 foot in real life C
, D. 1/4 inch equals 4 feet
Scale indicates how drawing dimensions map to real-world
dimensions.
11. What does the "Nevada One-Call" system help prevent?
A. Building permit fraud
B. Calling for subcontractors
C. Striking underground utilities C
D. Filing taxes
One-Call prevents accidental damage to buried utilities by
notifying of excavation.
12. On a construction job, the safety factor is used to:
A. Reduce project cost
B. Increase profit
C. Provide a margin above designed loads C
D. Speed construction
Safety factors add a margin of safety beyond the expected
maximum loads.
13. What is a typical minimum concrete slump for normal
residential foundations?
A. 1 inch
B. 3 inches B
C. 6 inches
D. 9 inches
A slump of about 3" is common for workability without excessive
water.
14. In masonry construction, a head joint is:
A. The horizontal mortar joint
